URGENT RESEARCH PAPER

Audubon Society of Northern Virginia (ASNV)

Contents

Introduction to Audubon Society of Northern Virginia (ASNV) 3 Goals to be achieved from fund raising 3 Objectives 4 Problem Statement 5 Resources at hand 5 Fundraising and the required Budget 6 Funding Proposal 6 Preliminary External Case Statement 7 References 9

National Audubon Society is committed to address challenges being faced by natural ecosystem in the USA. In this connection Audubon Society of Northern Virginia (ASNV) is a regional chapter that advocates issues impacting Northern Virginia’s ecosystem. ASNV as a society is contributing to address environmental problems, focusing on birds and wildlife in Northern Virginia. Its mission is conservation and restoration of natural ecosystem for the benefit of humanity and earth’s biological diversity in Northern Virginia. Purpose of this document is to plan a fundraising campaign for the society to meet its financial needs. The society, being a nonprofit organization, has to meet its expenses to achieve its mission. Collaborations and partnerships with other conservation organizations alongside awareness campaigns for the local population needs funding. This funding will be met through a fundraising plan as discussed in this document ("April 2018 Newsletter," n.d.).

It is estimated that 11% of the world’s bird species would be at risk within 20 years ("Why Count Birds," n.d.). It has also been established that endangerment of natural habitat has cause 70% decline in their population since 1967 ("Why Count Birds," n.d.). In order to create awareness authentic surveys and dissemination of information is required. Surveys like Winter Waterfowl Count, International Migratory Bird Count and Christmas Bird Count, etc. have been recognized as important contribution towards conservation and restoration of wildlife and its habitat ("Counts and Surveys," n.d.). Therefore the fundraising would help this nonprofit society to expedite and expand its work on surveys, conservation of the environment through volunteer groups, making budgetary proposals for the government and helping partners address the climate change ("Current Issues," n.d.).

Work being done by ASNV can be categorized into long term and short term projects (Dustin, pp. 22). Each category needs separate, yet permanent, set of funders. Each project, few of which have already been discussed, has stakeholders of its own. Management of ASNV should set long term and short term policy, priority and goals. It has to have following steps to achieve funding targets for functioning of the society (Dustin, pp. 11, 2010):

a. Identification and recruitment of project and community leaders

b. Identification of stakeholders in each project

c. Ecosystem impacting agents and their sources like industries or individuals effecting the habitat

d. Collaborators and partners in projects and their funding capacity for the surveys and research work

An estimate of funding that would be required initially for project like research relating to impact on migration of birds due to specific industry is being tabulated in the below mentioned chart:

Since it has been discussed that natural habitat is endangered due to environmental challenges confronted by industrial development such as pollution, wastes, over population, encroachment of forests and wildlife, therefore it is will be important to conduct a scientific study of the changes. The qualitative analysis would need volunteers and workers who would collect data from locals and local authorities responsible to maintain facts and figures. Another research area which will complement the work will be the chronological study of wildlife against the above gathered facts and figures. An area at the fringes of the wildlife habitat will initially be demarcated as a first step of this research. Business individuals, organizations and companies which have been the direct effectors of the wildlife habitat shall be one of the resources which will later be negotiated for fundraising for continued research and conservation purposes. In addition to this, social awareness through pamphlets, social media, etc. and sensitization of the population regarding these environmental impacts and climate changes will be a sustained project from continued funding from the stakeholders.

Fundraising and the required Budget

Social events as a starter has always been first choice for nonprofit organizations. Various Non-Governmental Organizations and stakeholders are ready to participate such events. They collaborate and forge partnerships keeping in view the relevance of such events to their vested interests. Business community is always keen to attend such events because of the fact that they will be directly impacted to the outcomes of such events. Sponsorships through initial door to door meetings can be found if there is a dedicated fundraising committee set up for the task within ASNV.

Meeting with individuals, NGOs, industrialists can provide sponsorship and seed money for the convening of such events. Each event has its own financial cycle. This financial cycle could achieve subscriptions for future work of the society (ASNV). From selling of tickets and renting of stalls and show areas would raise fund. Short books, survey readings, climate studies and other such material placed in this event can generate further revenue till the culmination of the event. It is important to engage the main sponsors and funders with the audience, especially universities and high school students. Few areas that should be provided in the fund raising event should include dedicated areas or stalls like:

a. Area reserved for ecosystem study guides and short lectures

b. Industries and their work in conservation of the ecosystem

c. Book stalls and reading areas

d. Information and reading area regarding Wildlife of the area

e. Research and Volunteers joining/recruitment area

f. Information area on bird and their species in Northern Virginia

g. Stalls for Partners and Collaborators

h. National Surveys

Audubon Society Northern Virginia has been contributing to the cause of conservation and protection of natural habitat and wildlife specifically to the bird species for the last 35 years. Audubon Society of Northern Virginia is a chapter of National Audubon Society. It is committed towards restoration and conservation of the natural ecosystem. Bird species is the main area of its focus for conservations. Out of fear of dwindling birds’ population due climate changes and habitat endangerments due to various reasons, this society started functioning as a nonprofit organization.

John Jamed Audubon during 1800s being a popular artist of those times produced artwork of nature and birds. His work brought to light the natural habitat of the America. During 1903 Theodore Roosevelt established federal wildlife refuge, which later transformed into National Association of Audubon Societies. Audubon’s work and changing habitat and vanishing wildlife compelled the establishment of such societies ("History and Mission Statement," n.d.).

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Today these societies, along with many NGOs, partners and collaborators are working tirelessly for conservation of the environment and wildlife. It is helping individuals and groups to know and disseminate importance of conservation and restoration.

April 2018 Newsletter. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://audubonva.org/april-2018-newsletter

Audubon at Home. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://audubonva.org/audubon-at-home-1

Counts and Surveys. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://audubonva.org/bird-and-wildlife-counts/

Current Issues. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://audubonva.org/current-issues/

Dustin. (2010). Pulling the Team Together (2nd ed. pp 19).

Dustin. (2010). Pulling the Team Together (2nd ed. pp 22).

History & Mission Statement. (n. d.). Retrieved from https://audubonva.org/history-and-mission

Why Count Birds. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://audubonva.org/why-count-birds/